C2C Cycle Route - Latest News
C2C Cycle Route Latest News
CHRIS OVER THE MOON AS CHARITY RIDE IS SAVED
Published on Friday 5 August 2011 13:52 in the Sunderland Echo
CHARITY cyclist Chris Moon is back in the saddle today after finding a last-minute replacement for his stolen bike.
The 34-year-old has spent six months training for the 140-mile C2C Cycle Route, in aid of Cancer Research and a new day-care ward at Sunderland Royal Hospital. But last week his plans were thrown into chaos after thieves broke into a shed at his home in Eden Vale, and pinched his mountain bike.
However, following an appeal the floor tiler has now returned to the road.
The Echo was inundated with offers of help after we told how yobs stole Chris’s GT Aggressor XC, worth up to £500.
Today, dad-of-one Chris was riding alongside his fellow fund-raisers on the punishing three-day event. "I want to thank everyone who got in touch and offered me their bikes," he said. "I can't believe how many people came forward to help."
He also thanked fellow gentoo colleague, plumber Stevie Oakes, from Hendon, whose bike he is using over the weekend. "It's pretty much exactly the same as the one that was stolen," he added. "The tyres are slightly different, but that's about it."
The 10 cyclists, who met through city-centre pub Chaplins, are following a route from Whitehaven, Cumbria, making two overnight stops at Penrith and Nenthead, before finishing at Roker on Sunday.
Rider Michael Parkinson, 43, from Ashbrooke, said: "Chaplins has a history of raising money for charities and most people have experiences of cancer in the family. My uncle died of leukaemia, so it's a charity I feel strongly about." The team will be accompanied by a support van, driven by fellow Chaplins' regular and pal Mick McGlenn, 55, also from Ashbrooke.
The lads will also be holding a charity night in the pub on Saturday, August 13.
To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/michaelparkinson1801.
HEADTEACHER C2C CYCLE CHALLENGE
We are currently fundraising to buy a new climbing frame & safety surface for our Early Years Unit. The total cost is £4,700 to which the School & PTA have jointly contributed an amount towards but we still need to raise an extra £1,000.
Lynn Johnston, our Headteacher at Wylam First School, is somewhat foolishly attempting to complete the C2C cycle challenge in late July. The route will take her from Whitehaven to Tynemouth and is the first (and probably last) long distance cycle ride that she has attempted. The ride will hopefully take three days and knees willing, will raise funds for this Early Years Climbing Frame. If you would like to support Mrs Johnston in this foolish endeavour, then please go to www.everyclick.com/wylampta Your kind donations will be gratefully received and Thank you.
KEVIN'S KNOCK-OUT BIKE-RIDING TALES
Published on Wednesday 18 May 2011 14:00
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A HEART attack survivor has completed an epic charity bike ride – despite some comical setbacks along the way.
Kevin Bostock, 49, did the coast-to-coast bike ride and raised £700 for Tootill Amateur Boxing Club – finding himself accidentally riding among dozens of cyclists in a competitive bike ride in the Lake District.
He carried out the mammoth trek almost six years to the day he nearly died after suffering a heart attack. The truck driver’s near-death experience inspired him to take up bike-riding and he now feels much fitter, as previously reported by the Mail.
A hitch meant instead of riding from Sunderland to Whitehaven, he added an extra 18 miles onto his three-day 140-mile journey by getting his friend, Terry Willoughby to drop him off at a start point in Hartlepool instead of Sunderland. He then rode to Alston via his home village of Trimdon, as Kevin says he couldn’t have started from there as “it wouldn’t be the coast to coast” otherwise, as well as through North Durham villages.
During the epic trip, as well as losing a coat and “getting soaked to the skin a few times”, he also found himself being cheered by spectators who were watching a bike race through Whinlatter Pass.
Kevin said: “I saw all these cyclists going in the opposite direction, towards the lake and thought ‘there must be a race on’. “I saw a steward at the bottom of the pass and said ‘is the cycle race coming through here?’ he said ‘yes’ and I thought ‘oh great’. “I started going round the bends and people were cheering – they thought I was at the front of the race. “I told them ‘I’m not in the race, I’ve set off from Hartlepool on the coast-to-coast’.”
Dad-of-two Kevin, who is married to Susan and did the trip unaided, added: “A few cyclists flew past me and by the time we got to the top, people were ringing bells and cheering. “It was embarrassing and funny all at the same time.”
Kevin got through six bottles of water each day and he recalled one particulary hard climb, on a route from Alston to Keswick in which he didn’t get out of third gear for the first six miles.
But when he got to the finish line at Whitehaven and dipped his wheels in the water, in the tradition of the coast-to-coast ride, he said: “I felt on top of the world.” He added: “I put my wife through the mill – she was worried sick in case I took bad while I was on my own. I had to keep ringing in. But I would do it all again.”
EPSOM CHARITY PAYS TRIBUTE TO LONG-SERVING VOLUNTEER
A charity has paid tribute to a long-serving volunteer who took a partially sighted man with learning disabilities on the 155-mile cycle from coast to coast.
Mr Wells, a keen cyclist, regularly goes out tandem cycling with Ivan Storey, who is partially sighted and has learning disability but leads a full and active life.
In April, Mr Wells took Ivan on the 155-mile C2C tandem cycling holiday.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE
In accordance with Sustrans' agreement with the Owners who control Stanhope Common over which C2C runs Sustrans have agreed to close the route on specific days from August - October.
We have a system where there is a large prominent sign at the Rookhope end and also at the Parkhead Station end. The sign can be changed to read "OPEN" or "CLOSED" as appropriate. When "CLOSED" the off road Rookhope inclined is closed and cyclists have to use the on road alternative. We have two great volunteers who change the signs on the preceding evening. This has operated without any problems for the past 2 years. Unfortunately we can not publish or issue the shooting days in advance.
Therefore: from 12th August until further notice C2C via Rookhope Incline will be CLOSED on selected shooting days to all cyclists.
Sustrans' Steward will be at mile point 94 to advise on such days, when alternative signposted routes via Ramshaw or Stanhope MUST be used.
Cyclists ignoring this notice will be turned back by Sustrans Stewards or by the Estate Staff.
They also jeopardise the future of this route and the goodwill of landowners whose co-operation is vital to the success of the National Cycle Network.
NB This does not affect the rights of walkers using the public footpath.
